Gopher Volleyball 2019

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Wisconsin lost both of its matches with Washington, 1-3 at home and 0-3 on the road. Granted that there's a wide variation in the strength of non-conference schedules, but this means that Wisconsin, the coaches' pre-season conference favorite, enters conference play with the worst Big Ten non-conference record at 4-4.

Michigan State (9-1)
Nebraska (8-1)
Purdue (8-1)
Indiana (11-2)
Penn State (7-2)
Northwestern (9-3)
Minnesota (6-2)
Michigan (7-3)
Maryland (8-4)
Ohio State (7-5)
Illinois (5-4)
Iowa (6-5)
Rutgers (6-5)
Wisconsin (4-4)
 
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I was kind of hoping Penn St would lose again today to Pitt since they lost the first one. :) Alas, they won in 5.

We're likely looking at a brand new #1 this week though since Nebraska, Stanford, Texas, Pitt, Penn St all lost. Baylor should be #1 for the first time ever.

Onto Big Ten play!!! :clap:
 

https://www.mndaily.com/article/2019/09/s-kilkelly-a-perfect-fit-on-gophers

Minnesota Daily: Rachel Kilkelly

Six games in, Kilkelly has been just that, successful. She's been key to the rotation, having played in every set at this point in the season. She's shown strength at the service line and has played excellently on defense. Her impressive performances to date make it difficult to believe that until their first match, Kilkelly was unaware of the prominent role she'd play in the Gophers' rotation.

"I actually had no idea that was going to happen. They told me right before our first game, the day of. I really had no idea that I was going to [be a significant part of the rotation] because we have so much talent on this team," she said.

Her impressive performance in the first match was followed by three straight matches where she finished with double-digit digs. Over that stretch, Kilkelly recorded 37 digs, three assists and an ace, earning the praise of her head coach, Hugh McCutcheon.

"I've been really impressed with her performance," he said. "Really steady, seems to be in control a lot and of course playing really well too. We're certainly excited with the way she's performed."
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http://www.startribune.com/false-al...am-cruising-after-two-early-losses/561452492/

Outside hitter Alexis Hart said the Gophers have been more disciplined on the block, strengthening the overall defense. They have become better at moving to the right spot at the right time, allowing the back-row defenders a clear view so they can dig more balls.

"When people are flying around, it's tough to know what spaces are going to be created and what spaces you need to defend," McCutcheon explained. "I think our back-row defenders are also playing with more discipline. They're more inclined to be in better spots before the contact and doing all the things we want to give them a good chance to dig it."

A few players have been especially impressive of late, McCutcheon said, mentioning Pittman, libero CC McGraw and freshman defensive specialist Rachel Kilkelly.

New setter Kylie Miller has flourished as well, leading the nation in assists per set (12.08).

"Kylie is a great setter," said Hart, whose 83 kills rank second on the team. "She's doing an amazing job of balancing out the offense."
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Minnesota swept Indiana 11, 10, 11 in one of the shortest B1G matches I've seen. Steve Aird used all of his timeouts but we still were outta there in about an hour fifteen. The Gophers passing, hitting and defense were on. Minnesota hit .444 and IU .011; Minnesota out blocked the Hoosiers 15 to 2. Aces? 5-1 Gophers.

The most drama in the match was Hugh using two challenges successfully early in the first set giving Minnesota a separation they never ceded. Damn, we're home fast enough to watch Nebraska and Illinois (tied 1-1 and in the third set).
 

Ignatius L Hoops said:
Minnesota swept Indiana 11, 10, 11 in one of the shortest B1G matches I've seen. Steve Aird used all of his timeouts but we still were outta there in about an hour fifteen. The Gophers passing, hitting and defense were on. Minnesota hit .444 and IU .011; Minnesota out blocked the Hoosiers 15 to 2. Aces? 5-1 Gophers.

The most drama in the match was Hugh using two challenges successfully early in the first set giving Minnesota a separation they never ceded. Damn, we're home fast enough to watch Nebraska and Illinois (tied 1-1 and in the third set).
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Yes, this was as well as the Gophers have played in a couple of years. Either Indiana isn't nearly as good as I thought, or the Gophers have improved dramatically since the start of the season. As the stats you cited accurately show, the Gophers simply dominated in every aspect of the game. It was really something special. Purdue tomorrow night will surely be tougher, but if the Gophers play as consistently as they did tonight, there shouldn't be any problem.
 





UpAndUnder43 said:
Why isn’t Kylie Miller playing?
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According to someone whom heard it off the BTN broadcast: "undisclosed injury".

People noticed Miller's absence during warm-ups and I didn't see her in the building. So in stepped Bayley McMenimen and Minnesota exited with a 19, 21, 22 sweep of the Boilers. It took a while for Bayley's sets to click; but Stephanie Samedy carried the club during the first set with 10 kills. And Samedy kept the All-America play flowing the rest of the night. Appropriately it was Stephanie at the service line to close the match. She finished with 21 kills and 3 aces. It sure helps to have Samedy on your side when your starting setter is out.

Just as important, McGraw had a terrific night on the back line with some spectacular digs. Pittman (10 kills) and Hart (9 kills) help keep the Boilers off balance. The Gophers were a focused club tonight. Hopefully we'll hear further news about Miller.
 

I thought I heard "undisclosed reason," not "undisclosed injury," on the BTN. but I may be mistaken about that.
 



let'sbeclear said:
I thought I heard "undisclosed reason," not "undisclosed injury," on the BTN. but I may be mistaken about that.
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"Undisclosed reason" makes more sense. What I heard was probably third or fourth hand. Anyway, the replay isn't available yet so I'm switching to "undisclosed reason" and hope Hugh said something post match.
 

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MCGRAW!
 

YES! YES! YES! Incredible! Unbelievable! There just aren't adjectives to describe this kind of effort.
 

Great Team Win last night vs. Purdue.

Shout out to CC, Samedy and Bayley with her first ever start as a Gopher.
 

Ewert86PC said:
Starting to think that college sports rankings are a scam.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
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As long as we get a top 16 seed, then we host through the Sweet Sixteen. The Final Four is always a neutral (at least, on paper) site.

So, hosting through the SS and then taking care of business there, is all we can really ask for. If we keep playing like this, I can't see how we won't be in the top 10, let along top 16 seeds.


EDIT: wow that was dumb. Disregard. This is only correct for hosting in the first round. I guess you would need to be a top 4 of the 16 regional winners.
 

I'm assuming the NCAA will start posting RPI this coming week. RPI's the best indicator of the top 4 and top 16 seeding, etc.
 

4EverAGopher said:
Great Team Win last night vs. Purdue.

Shout out to CC, Samedy and Bayley with her first ever start as a Gopher.
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Samedy plays with such control. She's always making adjustments; she's always thinking. Even when she kills, she makes decisions not just about where to place the ball, but with how much power too. Sometimes she hits with only 50% or 75% of her power, not because she's out of position, but because it's a better play, given what she sees on the other side of the net. Of course, others do this too, but Samedy seems to do it so effortlessly. I think two of her three serving aces tonight simply hit the floor untouched. She has multiple weapons, she executes shots with such total control, and she's always thinking.

As for McMenimen, in her first start she replaces a player who was the national setter of the week two weeks earlier, facing the #15-ranked team in the country. And with all that pressure, she gets more assists than Kylie Miller had -- and the team gets more kills than they had -- in any of the last three matches, all against lesser competition. Remarkable! Kudos to Bayley!
 
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dlw4gophers said:
Y

Stanford goes down to Washington. I expect Stanford to drop below us in the rankings this week, but Washington will probably leap frog us. We should stay at 7
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Based on this week's results, Stanford dropping below us would be shocking. They'll drop, but not that far. And since Washington also lost to Washington State this week, your second prediction, while not shocking, would at least be surprising.
 
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let'sbeclear said:
YES! YES! YES! Incredible! Unbelievable! There just aren't adjectives to describe this kind of effort.
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Incredible indeed, and no adjectives indeed, so I won’t add any. But note that on that huge rally whose video was posted (one of the longest I’ve seen at about 35 hits, and it really got the crowd going) CC had 6 of those hits on that single point.

By the way, I thought I noticed only 12 players suited up out of 15. Not sure who else was missing besides Miller.
 
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CutDownTheNet said:
Incredible indeed, and no adjectives indeed, so I won’t add any. But note that on that huge rally whose video was posted (one of the longest I’ve seen at about 35 hits, and it really got the crowd going) CC had 6 of those hits on that single point.
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You are Certainly Correct. I didn't make it Crystal Clear that, like the original post, I too was talking about CC. I Can't Complain with what you wrote.
 
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let'sbeclear said:
Based on this week's results, Stanford dropping below us would be shocking. They'll drop, but not that far. And since Washington also lost to Washington State this week, your second prediction, while not shocking, would at least be surprising.
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I hate to talk to myself, but it wouldn't be the first time. Baylor took over the #1 spot in the NCAA rankings, Nebraska moved up to #2, and Stanford dropped to #3. The Gophers remained at #7, ahead of Washington, who still is #8. Other than the re-shuffling of the top three, #4-14 remained the same from the previous week's rankings.
 

Does anyone know the nature and/or extent of Kylie Miller's injury?
 

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Future recruiting.. I know the old saying, just bring in the best talent, but I notice a real drop in recruiting in the next few year of the Minnesota girls. 2020 we have a great recruiting class coming in and NO Minnesota kids. 2021we have two from Wisconsin and one from Tx. and one from MN. so far 2022 another from Wisc. and a transfer from MN. who know lives in Colorado. Thought on this. I agree, get the best talent you can, but does this encourage the local talent to look out of state more to get there scholarships. Top Minnesota talent might start to feel there won't be room for them at the U.
 

CutDownTheNet said:
Incredible indeed, and no adjectives indeed, so I won’t add any. But note that on that huge rally whose video was posted (one of the longest I’ve seen at about 35 hits, and it really got the crowd going) CC had 6 of those hits on that single point.

By the way, I thought I noticed only 12 players suited up out of 15. Not sure who else was missing besides Miller.
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Interesting.

Maybe Miller and a couple other of the ladies got a bad cold/flu or food poisoning? Something like that?
 

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